Greek Independence Day and The Annunciation Celebration

Last Updated on Thursday, 02 July 2009 21:13 Written by Deb St. George Friday, 10 April 2009 00:00

Greek Independence Day and The Annunciation Celebration was celebrated on March 25, 2007 with parades and memorial services throughout the country. The military parade in Athens was preceded by a service at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral and a traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the president laid a wreath.

President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias said,  "Today, we celebrate the most glorious page of our history. A people virtually unarmed, but with a passion for freedom, a passion for national independence, rose up against the Ottoman empire. Despite the adverse will of a then reactionary Europe, this people fought and won, and today we live in freedom,"

This marked the 186th anniversary of the March 25, 1821 commencement of the Greek revolution against Ottoman rule. The President added that "the historic messages bequeathed to us by the 1821 freedom fighters are love of country, passion for freedom and the passion, and if required, sacrifices in order to preserve our national independence.  We all bow our heads devoutly before this heroism, the unique human heroism manifested by those fighters."

Many travelers spent time in front of the kiosks buying liquid refreshments to stave off the warm weather before returning to watch the parade of happy people in celebration on this special day in Greece.